Circuit-controller.



J. M. ANDERSEN.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION f|LD1uNE1s.1913.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

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J. M. ANDERSEN. I

CIRCUIT CONTROLLERI APPLICATION FILEDJUIIE1II.I9I3.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHAN M. ANDEBSEN, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT AND J. M.

ANDERSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPO- nATIoN or MAINE.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

To all whom tk may concern: f

Be .it known that I, vJOHAN M. ANDERSEN a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Circuit-Controllers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specication, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relatesv to circuit controllers, and is herein shown as emboilied in a distant controlledkswitch or circuitbreaker of the character shown andy described in U. S. Patent No. 1,050,592, granted to me January 14, 1913; e

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a circuit controller of the character described, which is especially adapted for carrying currents of large amperage and yet is capa lle of having its movable Contact member moved into its closed position both electrically and manually with avminimum power.

The invention further has for its object to provide a novel mechanism for operating the movable member of the circuit controller, whereby the latteris vforced into contact with its coperatin terminals with the greatest pressure at tie last portion of the closing movement of the movable contact member, and a most eicient contact with said terminalsthereby obtained.

Another' feature of lthe invention consists in avoiding liability of breaking kor cracking ofthe non-metallic switch-board, which supports the mechanism of the switch, and also in relieving themechanism of the switch from strain, as will be described.

The invention further yhas for its objectto provide for the movable Contact member of a circuit breaker yof large current carrying capacity, to have a minimum vmovement toward and away from the stationary termi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Appunti@ ined June 1s, 1913. serial No. 774,377.

electromagnet incase the operator at the distant point should inadvertently maintain the circuit of the electromagnet closed for a material length of time. To this end, the circuit for the electromagnet is controlled at the switch board, by a switch, which is operatively controlled by the mechanism employed to lock the movable member of the circuit breaker'in its closed position.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification. v

igure 1 isr a side elevation with parts broken away of a circuit'breaker embodying this invention. `Fig.y 2, a detail on an enlargedr scale of the locking mechanism for the/breaker. Figs. 3, l and, detailsr of the switch governed by the locking mechanism. Figs. 6 and 7, details of the contacts auX- iliary to the main contacts, and Fig. 8, a front .elevation of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1, with parts omitted and other parts in section, the section being taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 1.

`Referring to the drawing, a; represents a switch board of slate of otherI suitable nonmetallic material, which has secured to its front face, as by screws b, terminals or metal contact blocks c, d, of known construction.

Thecontact blocks c, cl, are spaced apart v and have cooperating with them a plurality of contact brushes f, herein shown as six in number, (see Fig. 8), and comprising laminre of' copper or other metal, which are herein shown as curved or bent, so that the ends of the laminae form substantially square or fiat faces, and extend from the fia-t faces of the contact blocks substantially at right angles thereto (see Fig. 1).

The contact brushes f are secured to the cross bar or head 10 of a T-shaped carrier, which has its vertical member 12 pivoted at the lower end, as at 120, to a metal frame comprising a back plate 13 and side plates 230 integral therewith but separated from each other. The back plate 13 is fastened at its lower part to the front facefof the switch board a, as by screws 1-1, yand at its upper part `to the terminal block l by screws 1&10, and is separated from said terminal block by insulation 141.

Each contact brush f is secured to the cross head 10, with the latter located on the CII inner side oit the brush between its bent ends, which may be etl'ected by screws 15, which serve to secure the head 17 ot an arm 1S to the cross head ot the T-shaped carrier. The brush is insulated from the metal cross iead 10, by a piece 20 of insulating material, which is interposed between the cross head 10 and a metal shaping piece 200 Jfor the brushes. The screws 15 are insulated from the brushes by washers Q01 of insulating material.

The vertical member 12 of the T-shaped carrier is provided at its upper end with a fork Q2, which is joined by an adjustable or extensible connecting rod 23, with a crank pin 2st, eccentrically carried by gears 25, 26, between which the connecting rod is extended, and which are mounted on shafts 23 supported by the upright sides Q of the frame 13. The connecting rod 23 is pivoted to the fork on the vertical member 12 oi the T- shaped carrier, and the shafts 28 of the gears 25, 26, are located opposite to the said pivot, that is, in substantially the same horizontal plane, and the crank pin 2st is located on the said gears, so that when the movable member of the circuit controller is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the connecting rod 23 is in a substantially horizontal position. The gears Q5, 26, are rotated by segmental gears 30, 31, having a hollow shaft or hub 32, which is loosely mounted on a pin 33 supported by the side frames 230, and said hub has extended from it a crank or arm 3-1, with which coperates a roller 35, carried by an arm 36 of a T-shaped lever 37, which has its end opposite to the roller pivoted at 38 and is provided with an arm 39 between its ends, which is joined by a link e() to a rod 4:1, secured to or forming part ot' the core 412 of a solenoid or electromagnet L13 located within a casing` 130.

The roller 35 practically iorms a part of the lever 37 and engages the inner or rear face ot the crank 31 and cooperates with the same, to turn the segmental gears in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow est, so as to rotate the gears Q5, in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow d5, and, through the connecting rod 2", move the contact brushes f toward the switch-board and into contact with the terminal blocks c, (Z, when the solenoid d3 is energized. lt will be observed, that in this closing movement of the contact brushes, the latter are pulled rather than pushed into contact with the terminal blocks, owing to the fact that the cross bar 10 is located on the inner side ont the brushes and between their ends, which latter are designed to engage the contact blocks c, d, before the solenoid core has reached the end of its movement, and on the further movement of the solenoid core, a pull is exerted upon the contact brushes j' between their 2i to the center of the contact brushes, with the result that a most efficient contact is obtained between the brushes and the terminal block c, CZ, as at this time the crank 24 is also in a position to exert its greatest pressure. By locating the cross-head of the T- f shaped contact carrier on the inner side of the brushes and arranging the latter on opposite sides of the vertical member ot' said carrier, the distance between the operating mechanism for the movable contact member and the switch board is shortened up, so that the switch is brought close up to the board and occupies but little space in the operating room, while yet obtaining a powerntul switch.

The movable member of the switch is locked in its closed position, which is ettected as herein shown by a roller 50, carried by the free end of a lever 51, coperating with a shoulder 52 on a back plate or web 53, extended from the segmental gea 's and connected with the crank or arm 31.

The lever 51, which may be designated the locking lever, is pivoted at 51 to a stationary bracket or arm 55, extended from the bottom of the frame 13, and is joined 'by a link 155 to a substantially triangular shaped lever 56 which is pivoted at 57 to the bracket 5o, and has its other end joined by a pin and slot connection with a head 53 on the end of a rod 59, to which the core 60 ot' a solenoid 61 is attached. In the present instance, the head 5S is provided with the slot 62 into which the pin G3 on the lever 56 is extended, said head being movabln in a guide 64.

The web or back plate 53 is provided with a circular outer surface 65, whose center is the pin 33, and this circular surface is engaged by the roller when the breaker is open, and the said roller remains in engagement with the circular surface until the breaker is closed, and at or about the time the breaker is closed, the roller 50 passes oit ot the circular portion and under the shoulder 52, with which it is engaged by the toggle 155, 56, being moved by the core under the influence of gravity from its broken position shown in Fig. 2 into its closed or straightened position shown in Fig. 1, in which latter position the lever 51 locks the segmental gears 30, 31, from backward movement and thereby locks the movable member of the breaker in its closed position. Then it is desired to release the segmental 1 an ...4v

gears 30, 31, so as to permit the breaker to be opened, the solenoid 61 is energized, which attracts its core into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby turning the lever 56 on its pivot so as` to break the toggle.

The solenoids 43, 61 are designed to be operated at a point remote from the switch board a, and to avoid injury to the main solenoid 43 by the operator maintaining the circuit for said solenoid closed, as, r`for instance, by having his attention diverted, after he had closedthe saidcircuit, andv also to protect. the starting switch from injury by sparking, an auxiliary switch is pro vided at the switch board, which is included in the circuit of the ymain solenoid 43, and this auxiliary switch is placed under the control of the release magnet or solenoid 61,'as will be described.

The auxiliary switch referred to, may be of any suitable construction, but preferably that herein shown. i

The auxiliary switch'is located at the rear sidefof the switch board u and comprises fixed terminal blocks 70, 71, (see Figs. 3k to 5) secured to the board a and yyielding terminals 72, 73, secured to the ixed terminals, with which coperates a movable member comprising a rigid contact member 74 coperating with the yielding terminals 72, 73, and a yielding member 75 cooperating with the fixed terminals 70, 71. The movable member yis secured to the upper end of a lever 77, pivoted at 78 to a supporting frame 79 secured to the board a. The lever 77 is moved away from the switchboard by a spring 80 and is closed by a toggle, comprising a link 81 and a bell crank lever 82, the latter having connected to its arm 83 a rod 84, which is extended through the board a to the vicinity of the locking lever 51,r with which it has a pin and slot connection to take up surplus motion of the lever 51 and to avoid damage to the auxiliary switch or therod 84. In the present instance, the rod 84 is provided with an` enlargement or head 85 having a slot 86, through which. is extended` a pin 87 on a finger 88 attached to the lever 51. When the locking lever 51 is moved into its closed Josition., the pin 87 acts against one end oi the slot 86 and moves the rod 84 in the direction indicated by the arrow 90, Fig. 3, and rocks the bell crank 82 so as to break the toggle 82, 81, and permit the spring 80 to turn the lever 77 from the position shown in Fig. 3, into that shown in Fig. 1', and thus openy the auxiliary switch. l

When the locking lever 51 is moved into its non-operative position shown in Fig. 2, which is effected by energizing the release magnet 61, the pin 87 engages the opposite cnd of the slot 86 and moves the rod' 84y in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 90, thereby moving the bell crank 82 so as to straighten the toggle and move the lever 77 so to close the auxiliary switch, as represented in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

It will be observed, that when the auxiliary switch is closed, the breaker is open, and the circuit of the magnet 43 is closed at the switch board but is open at the distant point, and that when the breaker is closed and the movable member is locked in its closed position, the auxiliary switch is open at the switch board, and the magnet 43 is thus protected from being burnt out by maintaining its circuit closedat the distant point.

The straight face of the crank or arm 34 coperating with the roller 35, which is moved in the arc of a circle, acts as a cam, So that the pressure of the roller is greatest when the roller engages the outer end of the crank, which is when the movable me1nber of the breaker is in its closed position.

By providing the. segmental gears 30, 31, with the crank or arm 34, the said gears and the gears 25, 26, cooperating therewith, can be elevated so that the center of the gears 25, 26 are in substantially the same horizontal plane. as the center of the brushes f, and, as a result, the force is enabled to be applied to the center of the brushes to obtain a contact of maximum efficiency with brushes having square ends.

The breaker is provided with auxiliary stationary contact members, preferably carbon blocks 100, which are secured to metal plates or blades 101, secured to extensions 102 of the contact block c, and movable contact members comprising carbon blocks 105, which are secured to opposite sides ot' the arm 18 and are engaged with and disengaged from the carbon blocks 100, after the manner of a knife switch.

The segmental gears 30, 31, are provided with webs 110 on opposite sides ofthe web 53, with which coperate the forked arms 112 of a lever 113, by which the movable contact member may be moved by hand to close the breaker, the lever 113 being returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 114, after the operator has closed the breaker and released the lever 113.

In operation, the circuit of the magnet 43 is closed at the distant point, which energizes the magnet and attracts its core 42 so as to move the lever 36 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arro-w 115. In this movement of the lever 36, the roller 35 acts on the crank or arm 34 and turns the segmental gears 30, 31 on the pin 33, so as to rotate the gears 25, 26 substantially a half turn and into' the position shown in Fig. 1, said gears acting through the connecting rod 23 to move the T-shaped carrier on its pivot and pull the ends of the contact brushes into contact with the terminal blocks c, ci. On the same movement of the carrier, the carbon blocks 105 are engaged with the carbon blocks 100, being engaged just before the main brushes f are engaged with their cooperating terminals. At or about the time the breaker is closed, the roller 50 engages the shoulder 52 and locks the breaker in its closed position, at which time the circuit of the operating magnet 43 is broken by the locking lever 51 opening the auxiliary switch 77.

To open the breaker, the operator at the distant station closes the circuit of the release magnet 01, which attracts its core G0 and breaks the toggle 155, 56, and disengages the locking lever 51 from the shoulder 52,`whereupon the segmental gears 30, 31, and the gears 25, 26, are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows 44, 45, respectively, so as to open the breaker. As the segmental gears 30, 31, are turned in the direction of the arrow 44, the crank 34 turns the lever 37 upwardly in the direction indicated by the a `row 115, thereby elevating the core 42 of the operating magnet 43. The outward movement ot the main and auxiliary contacts of the breaker, are limited byv a stop, herein shown as a pin 11G carried by the trame 13 and which is engaged by the segmental gears 30, 31.

TWhen the locking lever 51 is moved into its inoperative position, the auxiliary switch 77 controlling the magnet 43 is closed, thereby completing the circuit of this magnet at the switch board and in condition to be closed at the distant point.

By means of the T-shaped carrier, the contact brushes can be secured to the head of the carrier at their center, so as to extend transversely of the head of the carrier, and so that the brushes can be located on opposite sides of the vertical member of the carrier, and thus allow the operating mechanism for the carrier to be located between the brushes, and to be connected with the carrier substantially at the center of the brushes.

It will be observed that when the movable contact. member is in its closed position, the core 42 of the solenoid 43 is in its lowest and strongest position; that the roller 35 engages the outer end of the crank or arm 34 and is in its strongest position; that the crank 24 which is connected directly or by a rigid connecting rod Q3 is in its strongest position, and that all three of these elements cooperate at the last portion of the closing movement of the movable contact member to force the contact brushes into contact with the liXed terminals with the greatest pressure. As a resulta very heavy switch or breaker designed to handle currents of very large volume, as, for instance, from 10,000 to 40,000 amperes, can be closed with surety by an electromagnet, which can be made very small compared to the amount of work to be performed by it, and also the switch can be closed by a single operator working the hand-operated lever 113.

It may be preferred to use two gears 25, 26, coupled together as described in the patent above referred to, and to use two segmental gears coupled together, but it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect.

Claims:

1. In an electric switch or circuit controller, in combination, a movable contact member, a gear having its center located in a substantially horizontal plane through the center of the said contact member when the latter is in its closed position, means for connecting said gear with said movable contact member and arranged to effect a connection between the gear and contact member substantially at right angles to the plane in which the ends of the contact member lie in the closed position of the latter, a segmental gear for rotating said gear, an arm on said segmental gear, an oscillating lever coperating with said arm to move longitudi4 nally thereof toward its free end to close the switch and remaining in the path of movement in the opposite direction of said arm so as to be moved thereby, and a solenoid having its core operatively connected with said oscillating lever.

2. In an electric switch or circuit controller, in combination, a movable Contact member, mechanism for moving it into its closed and opened positions, an electromagnet for operating said mechanism to move said contact member into its closed position, a lever for locking said member in its closed position, a switch for controlling the circuit of said electromagnet, a rod, a toggle connecting said rod with the movable member of said switch, and a pin and slot connection between said rod and locking lever, substantially as described.

3. In an electric switch or circuit controller, in combination, a movable contact member, a rotatable device provided with an arm having a substantially straight face, means for operatively connecting said rotatable device with said contact member, an oscillating lever cooperating with the substantially straight face of said arm to turn said rotatable device in one direction and move said contact member into its closed position and to be moved by said arm when the contact member is moved into its open position, and means for moving said lever, substantially as described.

4. In an electric switch or circuit controller, in combination, a movable contact member, a rotatable device provided with an arm, means for operatively connecting said rotatable device with said contact arm, an oscillating lever cooperating with said arm and movable in one direction longitudinally of said arm to turn said rotatable device and move said contact member into its closed position and kmovable'in the opposite direction into its starting position by said arm when the contact member is moved into its open position, and an electromagnet having its armature operatively connected with said oscillating lever for moving the latter in the first-mentioned direction. n

5. In an electric switch or circuit controller, in combination,I a movable contact member, a rotatable device provided with an arm, means for operatively connecting said rotatable device with said contact arm, an oscillating lever pivoted at its lower end and havin its free end movable downwardly an coperating with said arm on said downward movement to move the free end of the latter downwardly and effect rotation of the lrotatable device to move the said contact member into its closed position, and having its free end remaining in the upward path of movement of saidY arm to be moved upwardly thereby in the opening movement of said contact member, and a solenoid havin its core operatively connected with sai oscillating lever.

6. In an electric switch or circuit controller, in combination, a movable contact member, a vertically arranged carrier therefor pivoted at its lower end, a crank shaft located in substantially a horizontal plane through the center of the said contact member when the latter is in its closed position, a crank on said shaft connected with said carrier and arranged to occupy a position between the said carrier and shaft and in substantially the horizontal plane passing through the center of the contact member and said shaft when the contact member is in its closed position, a rotatable member connected with said crank shaft to rotate the same and provided with an arm, an oscillating device cooperating with said arm and movable longitudinally thereof and engaging the outer end of said arm in the closed position of the Contact member and remaining in the path of movement in the opposite direction of said arm to be moved by the latter in the opening movement of said contact member, and a solenoid having its core operatively connected with said oscillating device to move the latter and to be moved by said oscillating device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHAN M. ANDERSEN.

Witnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

